HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 03-028
RESOLUTION No. 03-028
Resolution of the City Council of Saratoga
Supporting and Endorsing the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District's
Proposed Extension of its Boundaries to the San Mateo County Coast to Preserve Open
Space and Agricultural Lands
WHEREAS, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is a special district formed
in northwestern Santa Clara County inl972 (and extended to southern San Mateo County in 1 976)
for the purpose of preserving and managing open space lands within its jurisdiction on the San
Francisco peninsula; and
WHEREAS, existing public benefits of the District's services include protecting nearly
50,000 acres of our nearby open space lands, providing for low-intensity public recreational use on
approximately 220 miles of trails within 26 open space preserves, permanently protecting local
streams and watersheds, and preserving the sensitive habitats of a variety of species of endangered
plants and animals, maintaining historic structures and facilities on the land, preserving existing
agricultural uses, and providing an environmental education program and volunteer opportunities;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Saratoga is within the jurisdiction of the District, and its
constituents have reaped the priceless benefits provided by the District, many utilizing the lands for
recreational purposes, others enjoying the unspoiled scenic backdrop provided by District lands,
and all secure in the knowledge that these unspoiled open space lands are permanently preserved
for their children, and the generations beyond; and
WHEREAS, in the late 1990s, the District received requests and petitions ITom
individuals, organizations, and elected bodies (including the Half Moon Bay City Council and
the Midcoast Community Council) asking for its services in the preservation and management of
open space lands, beyond its current boundaries west of Skyline Boulevard, and including the
natural treasure that is the San Mateo County coastline, and in a subsequent public opinion poll
by the District, approximately 90% of the respondents said that preservation of open space west
of Skyline Boulevard was important; and
WHEREAS, the 1998 Coastside Subregional Planning Study conducted by the County of
San Mateo, the cities of Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, the Midcoast Community Council and
sponsored by the Association of Bay Area Governments indicated the need for regional open space
preservation and management services in this area, concluded that District boundary expansion
was one of the most promising attempts in a decade to meet this need; and
WHEREAS, public agencies, land trusts, and other non-profit entities, some of which
currently own open space lands west of Skyline Boulevard and on the San Mateo County coast,
have indicated a great need for District services in providing for additional open space preservation
and in providing experienced, long-term stewardship and management for those open space lands,
especially in light of current budget constraints at the federal, state and county level which restrict
other government agencies' ability to provide these services; and
WHEREAS, in response to these requests and this need, the District is considering
extending its boundaries so that it may provide services to preservate and manage open space lands
west of Skyline Boulevard, preserve agricultural lands on the coast, preserve the rural character of
the coastal region, provide land management services for other land-owning agencies, enhance fire
protection and public safety through the increased presence of its highly skilled field staff, and
offer the public further opportunities for ecologically-sensitive recreational uses and environmental
education; and
WHEREAS, through this proposed annexation of the coastside, the District will greatly
enhance the protection of the pristine, "world-class" natural beauty, open spaces and agriculture of
the San Mateo County coast, from the southern boundary of Pacifica to the Santa Cruz/San Mateo
County Line and from Skyline to the sea, one of the last remaining unspoiled coastlines so near to
one of the world's major urban areas; and
WHEREAS, the District's annexation proposal envisions purchasing (from willing
sellers only, and often through acquiring conservation or agricultural easements) and/or
managing up to 11,800 acres of pristine public open space and continuing-use agricultural land,
over the next 15 years, thereby allowing orderly development, yet preventing urban sprawl; and
WHEREAS, if successful, the District's efforts will provide for the people of the City of
Saratoga and for the entire region expanded opportunities for public access on the coastside,
increased resources for maintaining the physical and economic integrity of Coastal agricultural
lands, elected representation for the coastside area on the District's board of directors, enhanced
community programs in environmental education and open space volunteerism; and
WHEREAS, such an extension would have no financial impact on the City of Saratoga,
would have insignificant financial effect on other government agencies or services within the
proposed annexation area, and would not change any land use designations or land use control, as
the District does not have any regulatory or zoning authority, but would offer the District, on
behalf of the public, the opportunity to contribute its services to open space and agricultural
preservation and long-term stewardship efforts, subject to all local, state, and federal land use
regulations and in compliance with all city and San Mateo County General and Coastal Plans; and
will be the most efficient and effective way to provide these needed services; and
WHEREAS, over the 30 years since its inception, the District has proved itself to be a
good neighbor, an excellent steward of open space land on behalf of the public, a solid and fiscally
conservative manager of public funds, and an organization very sensitive and responsive to the
community's needs and desires, through a great deal of solicitation and consideration of public
input into the planning and management decisions made by its board of directors,
Now, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED for the reasons stated above that the City Council of
Saratoga does hereby endorse and support the extension by the Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District of its boundaries to include lands west of Skyline Boulevard from the southerly
limits of the City of Pacifica to the San Mateo/Santa Cruz County line.
Be It Further Resolved that the City Council of Saratoga does hereby urge the Board of Directors
of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to file an application for the annexation of all of
this territory with the San Mateo County Local Agency Formation Commission.
Be it Further Resolved that the City Council of Saratoga does hereby urge, if such an application
is submitted, that the San Mateo County Local Agency Formation Commission approve the
application ofthe Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for the extension of its boundaries to
include all of the territory west of Skyline Boulevard from the southerly limits of the City of
Pacifica to the San Mateo/Santa Cruz County Line_
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City of Saratoga City Council, State of California, this 21 st
day of May 2003 by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
Councilmembers Kathleen King, Norman Kline,
Vice Mayor Ann Waltonsmith, Mayor Nick Streit
NOES:
None
ABSENT:
Councilmember Stan Bogosian
ABSTAIN:
None
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Mayor, City of Saratoga
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City